Trusted Concrete Contractor in Redlands - Decorative Concrete and Flatwork for Historic and Modern Homes

Why Redlands properties need a concrete contractor who understands local conditions

Redlands is unusual among Inland Empire cities in the age of its housing stock. The city grew rapidly during the citrus boom of the 1880s through the 1920s, and a large share of that original construction is still standing. Victorian mansions, Craftsman bungalows, and early 20th-century ranch homes on larger lots with mature trees are common throughout the neighborhoods near downtown and the University of Redlands. Many of those properties have original concrete driveways and walkways that are 60 to 100 years old - surfaces that have been through many more cycles of California wet-dry seasons, tree root growth, and thermal expansion than anything built in the last 30 years. Concrete work on these properties requires more assessment up front and more care during base preparation, because the conditions that broke down the original slab are still present and need to be addressed before a replacement is poured.

The newer parts of Redlands - the stucco subdivisions on the north and east sides of the city built between 1960 and the 1990s - have a different but related challenge: concrete that is now 30 to 60 years old, poured on clay-heavy soils that have been cycling through the Inland Empire's wet and dry seasons for decades. According to the California Geological Survey, expansive clay soils found throughout San Bernardino County are a primary driver of concrete cracking and foundation movement in the region. Redlands also sits at roughly 1,300 feet elevation, which means winters are slightly cooler than lower Inland Empire cities - and the occasional overnight frost in December and January adds one more stress cycle to surfaces that are already dealing with clay movement and summer heat.

How does the process work when you call us in Redlands?

About Redlands

Redlands, California is a city of about 73,000 to 75,000 people in San Bernardino County, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles near the I-10 freeway. The city was founded in the 1880s and grew quickly through the early 20th century as one of California's most productive citrus-farming areas. That history left Redlands with one of the largest collections of Victorian and Craftsman-era homes in Southern California - properties that are architecturally distinctive and, from a concrete contractor's standpoint, more demanding than anything built in the last 50 years. The neighborhoods around the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens and near the University of Redlands have the highest concentration of these older properties, with large lots, substantial mature trees, and original hardscape that is long overdue for replacement on many parcels. The city also has active historic preservation programs that protect the character of these neighborhoods, which is a relevant factor when planning exterior concrete work.

Newer Redlands - the subdivisions on the north and east sides of the city developed from the 1950s through the 1990s - is more typical of the broader Inland Empire: stucco exteriors, tile roofs, attached garages, and concrete driveways that are now 30 to 70 years old. About 60 percent of Redlands housing units are owner-occupied, which means homeowners here invest in maintaining their properties over the long term rather than deferring repairs. Redlands borders San Bernardino to the west, and our crews serve concrete projects across both cities on a regular basis. We also serve homeowners in Perris to the southwest, which shares similar Inland Empire soil and climate conditions.

Serving Redlands and surrounding communities